It’s well known that the media never talk about trains arriving on time. So much so that following the news can be totally depressing. Without denying the great threats and difficulties facing our times, there is also very good news that sometimes reaches us and which is not relayed enough. To ignore them is to condemn ourselves to despair. Here are three recent pieces of information that make us smile again.
A spectacular drop in smoking worldwide
The global proportion of smokers has continued to decline during the 21st century according to data compiled by the site Our world in data. It thus went from 34% in 2000 to 23% in 2020.
Excellent news for global health, especially since smoking remains responsible for the deaths of millions of people each year and progress remains to be made.
The literacy explosion is confirmed
In 1820, only one in ten people over the age of 15 could read. Today, the literacy level of adults who can read and write is at 87%. In short, 5 billion people currently know how to read and write compared to only 100 million two centuries ago, reports UNESCO.
That said, we should not rest on our laurels and there is still a long way to go to achieve universal literacy. Our world in data also reminds us that there are still too many children who do not go to school.
The positive effect of lowering traffic speeds in cities
The implementation of speed limits of 30 km/h in cities is causing some motorists to scream. However, she has brought significant benefits to residents of Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam, or Brussels, according to a study by the National Technical University of Athens.
The researchers noted that this change led on average to a 37% reduction in fatal road accidents, an 18% reduction in emissions, a 2.5 decibel reduction in noise pollution and a 7% reduction in fuel consumption.
The authors specify that, to maximize the effects of these measures, it is appropriate to combine them with investments in infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists as well as in public transport.
That’s it for this week. If you liked this article, you can always reread the previous part of this section to find other good news that has gone relatively unnoticed.
